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Custom Upholstery Above

Mini Truckin', September 07, 2009

To build the ultimate show mini, you have to pay attention to details that most people would take for granted. To be able to have the most extreme mini out there, you have to work on areas of your ride that are functional, while still making sure to go the extra mile in places where most people wouldn't even look, but might in a show situation. How many times have you checked out a show ride, but forgot to look inside the truck to see if they'd just left their stock headliner there or had it completely redone? One thing is for sure, though; if your ride is still sporting its stock overhead covering, and you're going up against the owner of this Tacoma whose headliner we're showing, you just lost a trophy. Follow along for the essentials on making your custom machine more appealing to show judges as well as onlookers who will critique your ride harder than anyone. For more information, contact Leather Trim Limited using the information in the source section of this article.

1. First, you'll have to gather the necessary tools for the job. Scissors, an awl, a thin dull blade (for tucking material), a razor knife, a pneumatic spray gun for adhesive, and high-grade trim adhesive (3M 08046 Top and Trim Adhesive is recommended) will all be vital to doing the job.

1. First, you'll have to gather the necessary tools for the job. Scissors, an awl, a thin

2. Give yourself plenty of space to do the work. You'll be moving around the surface area a lot, and the less you move the piece, the less chance you'll have of making mistakes or having to redo an area, if you're lucky enough to be able to save your work to that point.

2. Give yourself plenty of space to do the work. You'll be moving around the surface area

3. Using the glue spray gun, lay down a layer of glue and bond a panel of 1-inch high-density foam to the existing bare headliner.

3. Using the glue spray gun, lay down a layer of glue and bond a panel of 1-inch high-dens

4. Press the foam down to ensure a good, tight bond and to make the headliner keep its original shape.

4. Press the foam down to ensure a good, tight bond and to make the headliner keep its ori

5. A&B Trim the high-density foam around the edges of the headliner and also around the areas where the sunvisors will fold into. Not trimming enough can keep the visors from folding into place out of the way.

5. A&B Trim the high-density foam around the edges of the headliner and also around the ar

6. Take a look to see how the edges and visor areas are trimmed. Make sure that your cuts are clean and straight or the results will show through the finished product when you're done.

6. Take a look to see how the edges and visor areas are trimmed. Make sure that your cuts

7. A&B Leather Trim Limited used chalk to outline the basic design the company was going for on the headliner. Since it's only chalk, the design can be manipulated over and over with no worries. When they had a design they liked, they outlined it using a permanent marker.

7. A&B Leather Trim Limited used chalk to outline the basic design the company was going f

8. Trace the outline of the design you've created using a razor knife. Cut the area again 1/8 to 1/16-inch away from the original cut.

8. Trace the outline of the design you've created using a razor knife. Cut the area again

9. Use the awl to carefully remove the extra foam material in the groove you've just cut around the design on the headliner.

9. Use the awl to carefully remove the extra foam material in the groove you've just cut a

10. To spray adhesive only where you want it, you'll have to use a shield tucked into the groove and spray adhesive carefully.

10. To spray adhesive only where you want it, you'll have to use a shield tucked into the

11. After gluing the foam, apply glue to the tweed or other material you're using and lay it on the foam. Don't make it too tight or too loose because you'll be tucking the material into the design in a few minutes and need a bit of slack at the edges for the nip and tuck procedure.

11. After gluing the foam, apply glue to the tweed or other material you're using and lay

12. A&B With the material (tweed in our case) laid over the foam, chalk out the design again using the groove in the foam underneath. This will help you know just where to cut the excess material away from the design.

12. A&B With the material (tweed in our case) laid over the foam, chalk out the design aga

13. Start at one end of the design work and carefully trim the material 1 inch from the groove in the high-density foam.

13. Start at one end of the design work and carefully trim the material 1 inch from the gr

14. Use the thin dull blade mentioned in the first caption to tuck the 1 inch surrounding the design into the groove.

14. Use the thin dull blade mentioned in the first caption to tuck the 1 inch surrounding

15. Remember the shield you used to protect areas from being oversprayed by adhesive? You'll use it again to make the areas that you trimmed out ready to accept the new upholstery.

15. Remember the shield you used to protect areas from being oversprayed by adhesive? You'

16. Similar to before, we sprayed the underside of the tweed with adhesive before laying it onto the unfinished areas of the headliner.

16. Similar to before, we sprayed the underside of the tweed with adhesive before laying i

17. You'll find it easier to work from the center outward to make sure that you work the areas without making the material pucker or gather anywhere.

17. You'll find it easier to work from the center outward to make sure that you work the a

18. A&B Again, carefully trim the second design material 1 inch from the groove you initially cut into the high-density foam.

18. A&B Again, carefully trim the second design material 1 inch from the groove you initia

19. Using the dull blade again, tuck the new color into the groove, working from one end of the design to the other.

19. Using the dull blade again, tuck the new color into the groove, working from one end o

20. Flip the headliner over, new material side down, and trim the edges of the headliner, leaving about 1 inch of overhang.

20. Flip the headliner over, new material side down, and trim the edges of the headliner,

21. Glue and fold over the edges all the way around the headliner.

22. Keep in mind that you'll still need to cut the holes for the dome lighting, the visor mounts, and anything else that protrudes from the ceiling in your truck. Looks good, eh? Now go revamp your door panels using the same method.

22. Keep in mind that you'll still need to cut the holes for the dome lighting, the visor

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